New EU envoy to combat anti-Semitism presents her goals

PRAGUE – The new European Union coordinator to combat anti-Semitism says among her top priorities will be to tackle the spike of hate speech on the Internet and to make sure European states properly enforce legislation on hate crime.

Katharina von Schnurbein presented her goals in Prague on Tuesday to her counterparts from member states, the U.S. and Israel.

Von Schnurbein was appointed recently after Jewish groups and some others were urging the EU to create such a position to help stop the rising hatred of Jews on the continent. She says she will also hold consultations with Jewish communities across Europe on the current situation.

U.S. envoy Ira Forman called Von Schnurbein's appointment and the Prague meeting "an extremely good sign."